2003 Forester. I went to put gas in it but the pump clicked off like it was full but I know it was about empty. If I hold the fill nozzle out so it is in the fill hole about and inch and run the pump on real slow it will take gas.

 Is this a vent problem? 

I've had a WRX that I had to disconnect the charcoal canister and that let me fill up.

I saw quite a few 2010-2014 Outbacks that had problems with the hose from the filler pipe to the tank collapsing inside. You couldn't see it from the outside, but the hose would almost completely close off on the inside and make it extremely difficult to put gas in the car.

 

I'd start there.

man - people fight this a lot and it can be 3-4 things. My MIL's 2011 Forester had to have a new tank installed!

 

better hope it's a bad Drain valve, purge valve, flooded carbon canister or bugs/spiders building a web in the drain outlet hose.

Any recent work done like replacing the filler tube?

No work on filler tube.

I'm not too familiar with the canister setup on that year, but check the hoses that go to the canister for anything obvious. Try to squeeze them and see if they feel like they're full of dirt. If there is a filter mounted above the canister check the hose that runs from the filter into the frame for a bugs nest in the end. Try to blow air through the filter and hoses.

 

There are some valves that can be tested by putting the ECU in Test mode. (Green connectors under the dash) and making sure you can blow air through them as they click on/off.

does anyone regularly refill the tank and "top-off" by rounding up to the nearest dollar or until fuel comes out the filler? if so, charcoal canister may be saturated.

 

does the car ever sit for days/weeks? valves can get gummed-up or creatures plug the Drain valve in the evap system. (Mazda has had multiple problems with the Yellow Sack Spider in their evap systems)

Hi,

Please go HERE and scroll to the attached images. The bottom RIGHT image has info related to your issue....and it's covered a LOT on subaruforester.org...is a common issue on the 1st Gen Foresters...it seems.

 

Td

Thank you Mr Dash for posting that link! Lots of good info there. I was looking for that flow diagram and couldn't remember where I had seen it posted.